Braxton Key talks Ralph Sampson, G League past and EuroLeague title ambition with Fenerbahçe Tarfin

New Fenerbahçe Tarfin signing Braxton Key sat down for an extended interview on Fenerbahçe TV in his first days with the Istanbul club. The American player discussed his transition, his legendary uncle Ralph Sampson and his clear ambition to win the EuroLeague with his new team. Key said he immediately felt the special atmosphere of a major sports club. He noted that the energy is incredible across all departments of Fenerbahçe, and he wants to watch the volleyball team and the football team. He was impressed that Fenerbahçe qualified for the Champions League, and he hopes the basketball team can go one step further this season after reaching the Final Four two or three times in recent years. Talking about the transfer, Key explained that he was playing for Valencia in Spain last season. His agent had been in contact with Fenerbahçe near the end of the campaign, but Key wanted to focus on winning the title with Valencia. He signed with Fenerbahçe one day after the season ended. Key comes from a basketball family. His uncle, Ralph Sampson, was the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, a four-time NBA All-Star and an All-Star Game MVP. Key said family gatherings always involved basketball and everyone wanted to one day reach Ralph's level. Ralph helped him during his transfer to Virginia and still offers advice to this day. Key learned from his uncle that you must give 100 percent every day; even when shots do not fall, your attitude, effort and energy must stay at the highest level. At Virginia, Key played alongside several future NBA players. He understood that the best way to earn playing time was to defend, rebound and do the dirty work. He adapted to coach Bennett's patient, low-tempo system, which often used almost the entire shot clock to get one quality attempt. Key called it a difficult but valuable lesson. Defense is Key's calling card. He says defense travels every night, even when offense is inconsistent. He enjoys stopping his man and then scoring in transition. He was named NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year in 2026-25, and he believes the biggest change came from confidence. He stopped forcing the game and let his play flow naturally, which created positive momentum. Key chose Europe over another G League stint because he wanted to play meaningful games in front of passionate fans. He wanted an environment where players care more about winning as a team than individual statistics. He had a good season at Valencia last year, reaching the Final Four, and now he is ready for Fenerbahçe. He admitted that adapting to Europe was difficult at first. He clashed with coach Pedro Martínez early in the season because European practices demand much more intensity than NBA practices. After he changed his mindset, his relationship with Pedro improved greatly. Key enjoys working with Saras Jasikevicius. Saras talked to him about the importance of the modern No. 4 position in the EuroLeague, mentioning players like Nigel Hayes-Davis, Sasha Vezenkov and Chima Moneke. Key understands his job is to make life difficult for those players on both ends of the floor. He likes that Saras is demanding and detail-oriented, noticing not only the shot but also the screen or the pass that created the shot. Key believes Saras gives players more freedom in decision-making and wants everyone to be comfortable playing positionless basketball. He compared the fluid style to the successful Golden State Warriors era. On defense, however, everyone must stay focused and play hard if the team wants to win a championship. Key described his own strengths as defending all positions, reading plays early and making steals. Offensively, he likes to attack closeouts, drive to the basket, rebound and kick out to open shooters. He is also confident about the adjustment process at Fenerbahçe because many players have European experience and strong leaders are guiding the newcomers. Key stressed the importance of the preseason, including eight or nine friendly games and the Super Cup clash against an Olympiakos side that recently won the EuroLeague. This period will help the team learn roles and build chemistry before the first official match. He praised the Fenerbahçe brand, saying people in New York recognized the club when he told them he was joining. He also praised the connection between former players and the club. He felt welcomed by the supporters and is already enjoying life in Istanbul. Key said he wants to win every possible trophy with Fenerbahçe and personally aims to be named Defensive Player of the Year in both the EuroLeague and the Turkish league. He closed by asking Fenerbahçe fans to stay with the team all season, promising to give his best and to keep exploring the city's cafes and tea houses.